THE CARTIER DIAMOND DAGGER

Lifetime Achievement Award

As the name suggests, this coveted award was sponsored by Cartier, who did so since its inception in 1986 up to the 2011 award. The CWA committee selects writers nominated by the membership. Nominees have to meet two essential criteria: first, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime fiction published in the English language, whether originally or in translation. The award is made purely on merit without reference to age, gender or nationality.